Veteran spiker EJ Laure had her breakthrough performance for the Nxled Chameleons as they secured their first win of the PVL All-Filipino Conference against the Galeries Tower Highrisers.
EJ Laure’s breakthrough performance for Nxled couldn’t have come at a better time.
The veteran spiker put up a game-high 19 points on 14 attacks and five blocks, painting the Chameleons’ first win in the 2024-25 PVL All-Filipino Conference against the Galeries Tower Highrisers, 25-20, 19-25, 25-14, 25-13, at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig on Saturday, February 8.
After the match, Laure expressed her satisfaction about securing the team’s first win after nine matches. She even admitted being surprised by her career-high in rejections.
“Siyempre sobrang happy lang din talaga. After ilang games na pinagtrabahuhan din namin, eto na nakamit na namin,” Laure said during the post-game press conference.
“Nabigla rin ako sa puntos, lalo na sa blocks. Siguro mas gusto lang din talaga namin may ma-prove naman kami,” she added.
The 27-year-old spiker signed with Nxled at the beginning of the All-Filipino Conference after eight years with the Chery Tiggo franchise.
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While it took her some time to adjust to Italian coach Ettore Guidetti’s system, Laure has shown her determination to lead the young Chameleons squad.
“She’s raising her level and obviously the level of the team every day. Basically, I think that’s she around 60 percent of her potential, so I am expecting to continue like this,” Guidetti said of Laure. “I am seeing every single day the team and EJ working hard. I cannot forecast when the develop comes but working hard, it comes.”
“Actually, hindi lang ako. Sila rin talaga gusto rin talaga nilang manalo. Nagsabay-sabay lang talaga na eager talaga kaming manalo ngayon,” Laure added.
[ALSO READ: EJ Laure juggles wedding preparations, volleyball duties with Nxled in PVL All-Filipino]
Aside from Laure, Chiara Permentilla and May Luna-Lumahan also finished in double-digit scoring for Nxled with 14 and 12 markers, respectively.
Nxled will go for back-to-back wins on Thursday, February 13 against the ZUS Coffee Thunderbelles, still at the PhilSports Arena.